CRM Software for the Automotive Industry Key Terms

Learn the terms for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software in the automotive industry

CRM software allows an automotive company to track its contacts with its customers. The user can enter, access and store customer data, which employees in other department may then access. Car dealerships use CRM software to monitor and forecast sales, manage sales leads and provide enterprise level reporting for dealer groups. Automotive CRM software assists car loan companies by tracking its customers' car loan applications. Car repair centers may use CRM software to track the service history of their customers' cars.

 

Lead management

Lead management is an essential component of CRM software for automotive businesses. It allows a dealer to make sales calls, send photos and videos of cars to customers and track customer responses.
Try: VinSolutions explains CRM software with lead management, and details features of its lead management software applications that are used to send automated responses to potential customers with specific information on vehicles.

Sales force automation (SFA)

SFA refers to the automation of sales activities, such as contact management and activity management. SFA software is usually a part of the customer service applications in a CRM implementation for the auto industry.
Try: CRM Landmark provides independent information on CRM and provides the functions of specific CRM components, such as SFA.

Open source CRM

Open source CRM is CRM software that has public source code. This type of CRM software may be used and modified by anyone for free, including auto industry businesses.
Try: Elite CRM Software provides a definition and discussion of open source CRM, including its pros and cons.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software

ERP software manages all of the information resources for an entire company and is used by auto industry businesses. This type of software is commonly integrated with CRM software.
Try: InnoVergent provides a glossary of CRM terms, including ERP. This company provides systems implementation and consulting services for small to medium businesses.

Sales process integration

Sales process integration is the procedure by which sales functions are gradually performed by CRM software. This typically includes activities in the auto industry such as sales forecasting, customer responses and inventory management.
Try: CRM Software-Reviews explains sales process integration and discusses the importance of developing a scalable and repeatable sales process before attempting to integrate it into the CRM.

Business process reengineering (BPR)

BPR is the process of modifying an organization's business processes. This is typically a necessary step prior to implementing a CRM project for all companies, including auto industry businesses.
Try: Online-crm.com provides an extensive glossary of terms associated with CRM. It provides a more complete definition of BPR as it pertains to CRM, and includes the general phases of BPR.

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